Press feeder and receiver



R. NOVIDOFF- PRESS FEEDER AND RECEIVER June 10, 1930.

Filed Feb. 12, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. NOVIDOFF PRESS FEEDER AND RECEIVER 'iFiIed F eb. 12, 1929 1 I l I I I lllII June 10, 1930.

June 10, 1930. R. NOVIDOFF PRESS FEEDER AND RECEIVER June 10, 1930. R. NOVIDOFF 1,762,484

PRESS FEEDER AND RECEIVER Filed Fe b. 12. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Zipi? June 10, 1930.

R. NOVIDOFF PRESS FEEDER AND RECEIVER 5 Sheds-Sheet 5 Filed 12, 1929 Patented June 10, 1930 PTENT @FFHCE RAYMOND NOVIDOFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRESS FEEDER AND RECEIVER Application filed February 12, 1929. Serial No. 339,424.

This invention relates generally to press feeders and receivers and the improvements are directed to novel and unique means for feeding cardboard, or similar sheet material, to a press, andto receive said material from said press after its operation thereon.

An important object of the invention is the production of a machine of the above-mentioned character wherein a stack of cardboard, or similar sheet material, is presented for delivery in single sheets to a press.

Another objectis to provide a mechanism whereby said single sheet is received from a press and delivered to a storage point.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of novel gripping mechanism whereby a single sheet of material taken "from the stack, is delivered to a runway for subsequent deposit to the mechanism of a press. 7 i

Still another object isto provide automatic means for controlling the operation of an elevator, containing the stack material, in order that the ascent of said elevator may be stoppedwvhen the last sheet is removed, and

the said elevator lowered to a position to receive an additional supply of material.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of novel receiving means, said means being adapted for reciprocation to receive a sheet of material froma press and to transport said sheet to a conveyor for delivery to a storage point or depository.

A further object is to provide means for reciprocating said receiving means and associating therewith certain clamping mechanism adapted to be operated to grasp a sheet of material emerging from a press and to discharge said sheet to a positionto be acted upon by a gripping mechanism associated with said conveyor. h g I As will presently appear it is proposed to provide a machine of the above-mentioned character adapted to be synchronized with the operation of a press in order that single sheets of cardboard material, or the like, may be fed from a stack to a gripping mechanism, the latter cooperating with a rotatable element to transport said sheet to a runway and to releasethe same for conveyance to the operative parts of a press. It is also proposed to provide reciprocatory receiving means adapted to advance a clamping mecha nism to a position to grasp a printed sheet emerging from said press and to deposit the same to a gripping mechanism, which latter cooperates with a rotatable element to carry said sheet to a conveyor for final deposit to certain storage means in stacked formation.

An additional feature of the invention resides in the provision of novel warning means wherebya signal is given whenthe last sheet of material has left the elevator and the latter hasbeen stopped at its highest point and is in a position to be lowered to receive an additional supply of stacked material.

The machine has been designed to admirably perform the several operations aforesaid and in view of its compact arrangement occupies a small amount of space and in view of its automatic action requires only a slight attention by the operator thereof! With these objects in View, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as Wlll be described more tu lly hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and

particularly pointed out in the claims.

in said drawings: t

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine.

:Fig. a side elevation thereof, slightly reduced, and showingathe elevator at itslow point. a a

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, slightly enlarged, and taken substantially on the the line 3-3 of Fig-2, the reciprocatory receiving means being removed to expose the conveyor therebeneath.

Fig l is an enlarged plan view of said receii ing means and its associated clamping mechanisn'i, the latter being advanced and having grasped "a sheet of material emerging from a press.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation thereof, the parts being in the same position as that shown in Fig. 4E.

Fig. this a sectional view taken on the line 66 ofFig. l and illustrating said clampingmechanism as having delivered the sheet of material to certain gripping mechanism carried by a rotatable element.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the position of one of the elements of the gripping elements about to clamp a sheet of material transported from the stack on said elevator.

Fig. 8 is a similar sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 1, to depict a certain detent adapted to cooperate with certain cam means to operate the gripping elementsto clamping position.

F 9is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 to show the cooperative relationship existing between said detent, cam and gripping elements.

Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive are sectional views,

somewhat diagrammatic, to illustrate the progress of a sheet over a rotatable element and under control of the aforesaid gripping mechanism; and

V Fig. 13 is a wirin g diagram showing the arrangement for delivering a warning signal when the elevator has discharged its last sheet of material and the shutting off of the motor when the elevator has descended to a point for reloading.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views, let 10 indicate generally the main framework of the machine, the same comprising the vertical corner columns 11, the bottom frame 12, the top frame 13, and the intermediate frame 14, all uniting to form a substantial and sturdy support for the mechanism about to be described.

Said bottom frame 12 will be provided with a floor 15, (see Fig. 8), which supports bearings 16, (see Fig.2), rotatably carrying vertical shafts 17, the upper ends of the latter being supported by brackets 18 affixed to said top frame 13, as shown in Fig. 1. As

shown in 2, the upper portion of each of said shafts 17 are screw-threaded, and each supports one corner of an elevator 19, said shafts passing through threaded apertures in the bosses 20 of said elevator, and in view of this arrangement the rotation of said shafts in one direction causes the ascent of said elevator and a rotation in the opposite direction produces a descent of said elevator, each of said operations being under control of a mechanism about to be described in detail.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawin s, it will be observed that said intermediate frame 14 carries bearings 21 and 22, which support a horizontal shaft 23, one end thereof being provided with a flywheel 24, while a sheave 25 is fixedly carried by its opposite end and adapted to be rotated by the flexible element 26 extending from the pulley 27 of an electric motor 28, the latter being supported by a bracket 29 afiixed to the top frame 13 of the structure. The rotation of said shaft 23 is obviously in one direction and it is proposed to provide a clutch mechanism which cooperates with other elements in order that the rotation of said shafts 17 may be reversed, as desired, to control the operation of said elevator 19 borne by said shafts.

As stated hereinbefore said elevator 19 is adapted to receive a stack of cardboard, or other sheet material, which is brought to a position whereby a single sheet may be abstracted from the stack for conveyance to a press and hence it becomes necessary to raise said elevator in order that another sheet of material may be presented for removal during the operation of the machine. To this end, I have provided a well-known form of clutch mechanism 30, that is splined to said shaft 23, which in the position shown in Fig. 3 has been thrown to lock the worm 31 to said shaft 23, said worm being normally loosely mounted on said shaft, and thus the rotation of said worm 31 is conveyed to the worm wheel 32 affixed to the adjacent shaft 17, the rotation of the latter being conveyed to its companion shafts 1? by means of the chain and sprocket arrangements 33, 34 and 35, each of the sprockets being equal in size in order that the speed of rotation of said shafts 17 may be uniform. As aforesaid, said elevator 19 is now rising and the cardboards, or sheets of material, stacked thereon, are being singly removed therefrom.

The means for removing the cardboards in single sheets, during the ascent of said elevator 19, comprises a plurality of rollers 36, which are rotatably mounted in a swingable frame 37,-by means of shafts 38. The rotation' ofsaid shafts 38 and their afliXed rollers 36 is controlled by the press to which the individual sheets are fed, the belt 39 leading from a rotative element of said press, (not shown),and extending around a pulley 40, affix-zed to shaft 41, rotatively mounted and supported by corner columns 11 shown at the left of Fig. 1, said shaft for convenience be ing termed the lower shaft. Directly above said shaft 41 is positioned another shaft 42, which is also rotatably supported by said corner columns 11, this shaft being termed the intermediate shaft, the end adjacent the pul- -ey 40 being provided with a spur gear 43, (see Fig. l), enmeshed with a similar gear 44, carried by shaft 41, (see Fig. 2), while the other end of said shaft 42 carries a sprocket wheel 45, from which chain 46 extends to a sprocket wheel 47 on shaft 48. Upon inspection of Fig. 1, it will be observed that said shaft 48, termed the top shaft, is rotatably mounted in the two left-hand brackets 18 and also carries the hub portions 37 of said frame 37. Since said hub portions 37 are loosely mounted on said shaft 48, said frame 37 may be grasped by its handle 49 and swung upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2, this operation also elevating the rollers 36 carried by said frame 37. Normally a latch arrangement 50, (see Fig. 2), secures said frame 37 to the top frame 13. The rotation of said shaft 48 is now communicated to said shafts 38 by means of sprocket 50 carried by shaft 48. and chain 51 extending to sprocket 52. A companion sprocket 53 is provided with a chain 5% leading over sprocket 55, while a companion sprocket 56 carries a chain 57 leading over sprocket 58. Thus each of the shafts 38, carrying rollers 36, are interconnected and rotate at'the same degree of speed, and as pointed out hereinbefore said rollers engage a cardboard and convey the same onto the shelf 59 to'the gripping mechanism about to be described.

Said gripping mechanism is composite and includes a plurality of fingers 60 affixed to a rockable rod 61, mounted adjacent the periphery of the roll 62, the trunnions 63 of the latter being rotatably mounted in a bracket 64, as shown in Fig. 2. As shown Figs. 7 to 9, the rim of said roll 62 is slotted to receive said fingers 60 as shown at 65, and somewhat elongated slots 66 are also provided in said rim for the reception of detents 67, which are affixed at both ends of said rod 61 adjacent the ends of said roll 62. The advancing sheet A, (see Fig. 7) from the rollers 36 encounters said fingers 60 which are maintained in an elevated position, as shown, and as the roll 62 rotates. the detents 67, also elevated, engage the inner surface of a cam arrangement 68, supported by bracket 69 at both sides of said roll. The aforesaid engagement depresses said detents and also clamps said lingers 60 onto the marginal edge of said sheet A, as shown in 11. and as the roll 62 continues its rotation the sheet is advanced toward the runway 70 and maintained in the clamped condition aforesaid until said detents 67 emerge from under the cams 68, whereupon the springs Tl. encircling rod 61 force said detents and said fingers to an elevated position thus releasing said sheet and permitting its deposit on said runway, as shown in Fig. 12. Rotation is imparted to said roll 62 through the intermediary of a sprocket wheel 72, mounted on trunnion 63, a chain 73 leading from a sprocket wheel 74, see Figs. 1 and 3) to said wheel 72. said sprocket wheel it being carried by stub shaft '75, suitably supported by the frame of the machine. As shown in the aforesaid figures, said shaft 7 5 is also pro vided with a sprocket wheel 76. which is embraced by chain "77 leading from another sprocket wheel 78 mounted on said shaft 41. the latter shaft being termed lower as pointed out hereinbefore.

The runway 70 comprises a platform 79, hingedly supported by the ends of said brackets 64, as indicated at 80, (Fig. 2), the

lower end of said platform bcingsuspended by a pivoted brace 81, which may be folded to maintain the platform in the depending position shown by the dash and dot lines in Said runway also includes a top roller 82 having its shaft 83 rotatably mounted in brackets 84: allixod to said platform, one end of said shaft 83 being provided with a sprocket wheel 85, engaged by chain leading from a sprocket wheel 87 aliiiced to stub shaft 88 suitably, mounted in the frame of the machine. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3. each of said stub shafts 75 and 88 is provided with spur gears 89 and 90 which onmesh to provide rotation to the parts aforesaid. Additional rollers 91. 92 and 93 are also maintained in spaced relation along the length of said platform 79, the shafts 9d, 95 and 96 thereof being rotatably mounted in brackets 97, 98 and 99 carried by said platform 79.

Asthe rollers associated with said runway areadapted to be rotated in unison, the shaft 83 is provided with a sprocket wheel .100. (see 1) engaged by chain l0lleading to sprocket wheel 102 on shaft 94. an ad ditional sprocket wheel. 10?) is mounted on said shaft and the c ain 104: leads therefrom to wheel 105 on sb rt 95 of said roller 92. Another sprocket wheel. 106, also on the latter shaft is provided with a chain 107 pass ng over sprocket wheel 108 on shaft 96 of said roller 93 and thus the rotative means is com plete. Upon inspection of Fig. it will be noted that the brackets 90 are slotted. as indicated at 109 to permit the removal. of shaft 96 and its roller 93 if desired, said chain 107 being parted at a connecting link to complete the removal of the associated parts. As shown in liig. 2, each of the rollers of the runway is spaced from the top surface of the platform to permit tractive engagement with the sheet A passing therebeneath for subsequent discharge to the press positioned in front of said. runway 70.

All the rotative and other cooperative parts mentioned hereinbefore are timed to perform the described operations. That is the single sheets leaving the elevator 19 are handled one at a time and as the first sheet has been released from the gripping mechanism, the second sheet is not presented over the shelf 59 until the fingers 60 of said mechanism are rotated to a position to receive the same. As shown in Fig. 10 the sheet A is being advanced over the shelf 59 by means of rollers 36 and will slip under the elevated fingers 60 when the latter are in the position shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 9 the spring 71. is secured to the rod 61 and the rim of the roll 62 and normally urges the fingers 60 and detents 67 to raised positions, these positions being altered by cooperation with the cams 68, as pointed out hereinbefore.

When the last sheet of material has been taken from the rising elevator 19, it is proa shift lever 119. When posed to provide an audible signal to apprise the operator of this condition and to provide means for automatically shutting off the power operating said platform. To this end, an intermediate circuit 110, (seeFig. 13) is provided, the same including an alarm 111, battery 112 and terminals 113 and 114, which normally are disconpected. The circuit 115, includes the motor 28 and terminals 116 and 117 normally bridged by switch 118 and also the elevator is ascending the lever 119 is in the position shown and the switch 118 engages terminals 116 and 117 thus completing the circuit. However, as the elevator is relieved of its last sheet tne point 19 contacts said switch 118, breaks the circuit 115 and elevates said switch 118 to contact said terminals 113 and 114, thus closing circuit 110 and operating the "is ial aforesaid, The operator now throws the lever 119 to engage terminal 120 which couples the branch line 121 to line 115 and closes a circuit to operate motor 28.

The shifting of said lever 119 also operates certain mechanism for reversing the rotation of said shafts 17, said mechanism comprismg a worm wheel 121, (see Fig. 3), loosely mounted on said shaft 23, the hub portion thereof b6111 arranged with a clutch face 122 to engage with said clutch mechanism 30,

. splined to shaft 23 but adapted to slide thereon to engage "either saidworm wheel 121 or the worm 31, as aforesaid. The rotating worm wl eel 121 now engages worm 123,

noun 7 wheel 125 connected to the lower end of said shaft transmits rotative movement to one of the shafts 17, by means of the chain 126 and sprocket wheel 12? borne by said shaft 17 as shown. The motion communicated to this particular shaft 17 is the reverse to that imparted when the clutch mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 3, and hence since said shafts 17 are interconnected by the chain and sprocket arrangements aforesaid, they operate to lower the elevator to the position shown in Fig. 2. Reverting to Fig. 13, it will be noted that the terminals 128 and 129 in the branch 121 are bridged by a switch 130 and since the lever 119 has been thrown to contact terminal 120 the current passes through said switch 130 to energize the motor 28 to operate the mechanism for lowering said elevator. However, as the elevator reaches its low point, the tip 19 engages the switch 130 and breaks the circuit, thus shutting off the motor and stopping the descent said elevator. The latter is now in aposition to receive an additional stack of material. It will be understood that both switches 118 and 130 are spring-pressed and under normal conditions contact the termi- Y 116,11. and 128,-129, respectively.

To facilitate the support of a stack of material on said elevator 19, I have provided uped on stub shaft 124, and the sprocket standing guides 131 and 132, the latter being adjustable in slots 133 by means of wing-nuts 134, while the former operate in slots 135, each being provided with a depending lug 136, which extends through said slots and having a threaded aperture engaged by a threaded rod 137, supported from the underside of said elevator. Upon operating the disk 138, of said rod 137, said guides 131 may be advanced toward one another, or withdrawn, as desired. Said guides rise and descend with the elevator and are arranged so as not to interfere with the adjacent structure.

The receiving means 128, aforementioned, comprises a pair of forwardly directed arms 129, secured to and extending from the righthand columns 11 of said frame 10, the inner faces of each being grooved, as indicated at 130, (see Fig. 6) for the reception of a reciprocatory platform 131, a plurality of extensions 132 being adjustably mounted adjacent the outer edge thereof. lhe outer faces, or side faces of said arms 129 are slotted, as indicated at 133, (Fig. 5), to receive pintles 134 extending from each of the side edges of said platform 131, said pintles extending also beyond the outer faces of saidarms 129 to fit into an elongated slot 135 formed in each of the oscillatory arms 136. Said arms 136 are each pivotally supported by brackets 13?, as indicated at 138, (Figs. 5 and 6) the lower ends of said arms 136 being pivoted to links 139, while the other ends of the latter links areconnected to disks 149, as shown at 141, and as said disks rotate, said oscillatory arms 136 reciprocate said platform within the grooves 130 in said arms 129.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be observed that shaft 41, or lower shaft, is provided with a pulley 142, adjacent said pulley 40, and that a similar pulley 143 is provided at the other end of said shaft 41. It is therefore proposed to rotate said disks 140 from said pulleys and to this end the belt 144 extends from said pulley 142 to a pulley 145, afixed to the end of stub shaft 146 carrying said disk 140. Another belt 147 extends from pulley 143 to the other disk 140, carried by stub shaft 148. It will be understood that both shafts 146 and 148 are suitably journalle'd in the frame 10. In view of the foregoing arrangement a rotative element of the press also controls the operation of the receiving means, which as previously pointed out is designed to receive a printed cardboard or sheet from said press and to deposit the same to a conveyor.

The mechanism for clamping a sheet as it emerges from the press, includes the rod 149 rotatably mounted adjacent the ends of the extensions 132, recesses 150 being provided for the reception of the clamping elements 151 affixed to said rod 149. The outer clamping elements are each connected to a pivoted lever 152 by means of a rod 153, the two levers 152 being thus provided operating in recesses 154 formed inthe inner edge of said platform 131. When the platform 131 is advanced by the mechanism aforesaid, it is proposed to present said clamping eiements 151 in openedrposition, that is, thehooked ends 151 thereof will be substantially in the position indicated in Fig. 6, and asthe sheet emerges from the press in a plane substantially with the bottom faces of said extensions 132, each of said clamping elements are oscillated so that the hooked ends 151 thereof grasp the marginal edge of the sheet 13 as indicated in Fig. 5. To accomplish this, an abutment 155 extends inwardly from each of the arms 129, the overhanging portion thereof being in the path of the advancing pivoted levers 152, and as the upper ends of said levers are inclined to the right of their pivr otal connection the contact with the abut- I municated to each of said clamping elements by means of rods 153 aforesaid, and thus the sheet is now ready to be withdrawn from the press as the platform 131 is retracted by the mechanism aforesaid. Upon inspection of Fig. 4: it will be noted that abutments 156 are provided and since the overhanging end of each is in the path of each of said levers 152, the contact therebetween forces said levers 152 to the position indicated in Fig. 6,

whereupon the clamping elements 151 release said sheet B onto the roll 157 within the region of operation of a gripping mechanism 158. In view of the springs 159 and brackets 160 said levers are maintained in proper positions during passage from abutment 155 to abutment 156 and vice versa. 1

The gripping mechanism 158 is similar to the gripping mechanism borne by roll 62, since the fingers 161 are carried by a rod 162 mounted in the rim of said roll 157, and since the momentum acquired by sheet B in its travel toward the roll 157 is suflicient to urge its edge beneath said fingers 161, as shown in Fig. 6, the continued travel of said roll 157 rotates the detents 163 beneath the cams 164, causes the fingers to grasp said sheet and transport the same to a conveyor 165, the passage of said detents beyond the inner edges of the cams 16 1 freeing said fingers as pointed out hereinbefore.

Upon inspection of Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed that said roll 157 is rotatably mounted in a frame 166 and that the rollers 167, 168 and 169, having pintles 170, 171 and 172 respectively, are rotatably mounted in bearings 17 3, 174: and 17 5 carried by said frame 166. In order to revolve the aforesaid rotative elements, stub shaft 88 is provided with a sprocket wheel 176 from which extends a chain 177 leading to a sprocket Wheel 178 on pintle 172. A companion sprocket Wheel 179 is provided with a chain 180 leading to a sprocket Wheel 181, on pintle 171 and a sprocket wheel 182 on the latter pintle is provided with a chain 183 passing over sprocketwheel 184: on pintle 170, and thus the desired rotation is imparted to said rollers 167,168 and 169. In order to rotate the trunnions 185 and the roll 157, carried thereby, a sprocket wheel 186, on one of the trunnions 185 is provided with chain 187 extending to a sprocket wheel 188 on pintle 170. Thus, as the sheet B is freed from the gripping mechanism 158 the same is caught by said rollers 167,168 and 169 and conveyed to a storage platform 189, shown in Fig. 2. The curved plates 190 and 191 facilitate the trans fer of said sheet and as the pile accumulates on said platform the same may be removed as desired.

As shown in Fig. 4, the rear ends of the extensions 132are slotted, as indicated at 192, which cooperate with the wing-nuts 193 to adjust the positions of said extensions. The mechanisms aforesaid are all timed so that a sheet is freed from the clampingelements 151 and the latter advanced in time to meet a sheet emerging from said press.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described Without departing from the invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth. but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a press feeder, means for removing a single sheet from an elevated stack, gripping mechanism adapted to clamp the edge portion of said. removed sheet, a rotatable element cooperating wit-h said gripping mechanism to advance said sheet and a runway for receiving said sheet and for delivering the same to a press.

2. In a press feeder, means for removing a sheet at a time from an advancing stack. gripping mechanism to receive the edge of said sheet, a rotatable element carrying said gripping mechanism, a, stationary cam adapted to clamp the gripping mechanism over the edge of said sheet, the continued rotation of said element freeing said gripping mechanism and a runway for receiving the freed sheet and for delivering the same to a press.

3. In a press feeder. means for removing a single sheet at a time from. an advancing stack, gripping mechanism adapted to receive the edge portion of said sheet, and means for clamping said gripping mechanism to the edge portion of said sheet and for freeing the sheet to permit of its delivery to a press.

4. Ina press feeder, means for removing a single sheet from an advancing stack, gripping mechanism for receiving the said sheet, a rotatable element supporting said gripping mechamsm, astationary cam positioned adjacent said element, and a detent associated with said gripping mechanism and adapted to cooperate with said cam during the; rotation of said element to clamp the edge of said sheet, the continued rotation of said element operatively disconnecting said cam and detent to permit the discharge of said sheet to a press.

5. In a machine of the class described, re-

ciprocatory means adapted to receive a sheet of material froma press, gripping mechanism adapted to advance said sheet and a conveyor for receiving and delivering said sheet. 7

6. In a machine of the class described, means for receiving a sheet from a press, gripping mechanism for said sheet, means for advancing said receiving means andfor returning the same to position adjacent said gripping means, means for discharging said sheet to said gripping mechanism and a conveyor adapted to receive said sheet and to deliver the same to a depository.

'7. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocatory platform, clamping means borne thereby and adapted to be advanced to grasp a sheet of material, means for operating said clamping means and to discharge the clamped sheet for transfer to a depository. I

8. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocatory platform, means for supporting said platform, means for reciprocating said platform, clamping means borne by said platform, an abutment for clamping said means into engagement with a sheet, and an abutment operating said means to release said sheet and gripping mechanism adapted to receive said released sheet and to advance the same toward a depository.

9. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocatory platform, means for support ing the same, means forreciprocating said platform, clamping means borne by said platform and adapted to be advanced with said platform toward a sheet emerging from a press, an abutment adapted to operate said clamping means to grasp said sheet, an abutment'to cooperate with said clamping means to release said sheet When said platform is retracted, gripping mechanism adapted to be rotated to a position to grasp said sheet and to advance the same and a conveyor for transferring said sheet to a depository. v

10. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocatory platform, means for supporting the same, means for reciprocating said platform, clamping means borne by said platform and adapted to be advanced with said platform toward asheet emerging from a press, an abutment adapted to operate said clamping means to grasp said sheet, means for maintaining said clamping means in grasping relation to said sheet, an abutment to cooperate with said clamping means to releasesaid sheet when said platform is retracted, rotatable gripping mechanism to receive said released sheet and to advance the same and a conveyor for transferring said sheet to a depository.

11. In a machine of the class described, a

reciprocatory platform; means for support-- ing the same; meansfor reciprocating said platform; clamping means borne by said platform and including pivoted levers; an abutment adapted to operate one of the levers to clamp the other into engagement with a sheet of material emerging from a press; tensioned means for holding said lever in elasping position; an abutment to relieve said tensioned means and to permit the release of said sheet and gripping mechanism positioned to receive said sheet and to transport the same toward a depository.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

RAYMOND N OVIDOFF. 

